Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-07-14
MILLHEIM PA, THURSDAY, JULY L.. 1887.
EISIE'S RIGHTS.

It's nice farm, said Mr.. Hubbard
Spruce, ms ho stood on the top Of Chalk Hill,
from whose peak Chalk Farm lay spread
out before him like n panoramic display.
a very nice farm. No nicer In the neigh
horhool.'
And house with all the modern inn
provements,' said Mrs, Spruce her thin lips
widening into "A spasmodic smile. IL does
seem as IL luck had reached us at last =
And we can keep hired girl, ma, can't
we % said Helena Elvira Spruce, who had
her gowns made long and straight, with lit
tle''ruiiles around the skirt, and big shoulder
puffs, 10 look 'spirituelle.' It's snch
drudgcry 10 wash dishes and scrapc frying
pans Z
OF course = observed Mrs Spruce. ~
am sorry for my poor stepson, Paul But
Paul would have been alive now Ii he had
taken my advice and stayed at home, in
stead of going out TO Nevada, silver-hunt-
ing
'Paul was always headstrong boy said
Mr.. Spruce smoothing down the Grape
band on his straw hat-'always p
And so the Spruce family came down the
hill, through the sweet pine woods, softly
carpeted with tiny pine needles, and across
fields all golden with buttercups, To the
snug farm house under the monster syca-
more trees.
And there, ON the steps, sat a pretty
young girl, seemingly not more than eight
cen or nineteen years old, with n travelling
bag in her lap and n black barege veil fiut-
tering in the evening breeze. Her dress
was Of cheap, black material her face pale
and worn, as IL with fatigue. She rose hur-
riedly up as they approached.
Have come 10 the right place. said she.
Does Mr.. Spruce live here q
Mr.. Hubbard Spruce cleared his throat
sonorously.
Young woman, said he, my name is
Spruce
The girl burst into tears.
'Please-please, then, be kind 10 me, fall
tered She Il am your son Paul's widow
And as she spoke she came up TO him,
holding out both trembling hands.
There's some mistake here, said Mr..
Spruce, unfolding big, rcd-silk handker-
chief 'Paul's wife died in Nevada, n few
weeks after his death.
NO, she did not said the young woman.
She's here now. | was very, very ill
they gave mp all hopes of me. But l did
not die
"Humph = said Mr.. Spruce, while his
wife and daughter got behind him, cycling
the stranger with cold, unsympathetic eyes.
This is very remarkable story. am in
clined, young woman, TO believe it all fab
rication I'm very much afraid that you
are an impostor I
A deep-red flush rose To the girls face.
L can prove that am not that, said she.
Il have the papers here in my bag. /
thought, rs n matter Of course, that Paul's
parents would be good 10 me. There was
no one else for me TO 60 to-
Mr.. Spruces face turned all manner of
colors as he looked at the little packet Of pa
pers which she extended 10 him.
Upon my word, said he, this IL very
extraordinary Julia, TO his wife, 4 am
constrained to believe that this young wo-
man really is Paul's widow.
Mrs. Spruce dropped a stiff courtesy.
How do you do, Mrs. Paul ?'' said she.
you will call me Elsie, wont you p said
the girl, appealingly. And this Is Paul's
sister -
His halfsister,' corrected Miss Helena
Elvira. We never were at all alike. Ma
was only his step-mother, and scarcely
remember him.
And added Mrs. Spruce, querulously,
1t did seem ~ IL Paul had made us enough
trouble one way and another without dying
and bequeathing us n wife to take care Of
Julia, said Mr.. Spruce, pompously, we
must not question the will of providence.
Come here, Elsie, kiss me. Wen do the
best we can for you-always taking IL for
granted that You mean to earn your own
living, and not be dependent upon us p
Il will do my best, said Elsie. Il am a
good little housekeeper. Paul always said
that my cooking was excellent, and I made
all his shirts with my own hands.
very sensible-very sensible I" said Mr..
Spruce And now mother, let's go I'm. /
suppose Elsie can have the little end-room
close to the shed p
was calculating to keep my -four and
stores there said Mrs. Spruce, sourly
But guess can manage. Come, Elsie
I'll show you where all the things are kept,
and then you can get supper for rs. Hele-
ma Elvira isn't very strong, and am very
tired
Il shall be so glad to he of use 7 said Mrs.
Paul Spruce, wistfully.
While she was taking off her things in the
cell-like room assigned 10 her, Mrs. Spruce,
senior, came tiptoeing back to where Hub
bard still stood on the grassy green, me
chanically wiping the perspiration from his
forehead, staring around him In CLASSY
eyed sort of way.
Hubbard = said she, I'm low voice.
We'll p retorted the farmer.
DO you s'pose she knows IL p
Knows what q
That this farm and the ten thousand dol
lars in money were left to Paul by his Un-
Gle Wethersbee q
OF course she don't = said the old man,
looking around, IA If fearful lest some one
should overhear the words. How should
she p
Are you going to tell her, Hubbard p
He turned short around, with a growl
like that of an incensed wild animal.
What do you take me for p said he. of
course suddenly altering his tone into
smooth plausibility, have the best inter-
ests of Pauls widow at heart. She shall be
provided for She shall never want. But
what does n woman know about business p
'Of course " said Mrs. Spruce, with sigh
of relief-'of course 7
So Paul's widow settled down in the
Spruce household as q sort of patient, much